• Informal Recycling Practices, Lax Enforcement Deface Green Energy Ecosystem
Nigeria’s solar energy sector is experiencing rapid expansion, with import volumes soaring nearly 94 per cent in 2023 and solar capacity reaching 385–400 MWp by the end of 2024, placing the nation among the top five solar adopters in Africa. This boom reflects Nigeria’s urgent need to bridge a staggering energy access gap, as many still remain off the grid. Yet, alongside this optimism looms a new crisis because solar panels and batteries have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years and three to five years respectively, and Nigeria currently lacks adequate formal recycling infrastructure or enforcement mechanisms for this growing waste stream. Without proactive policy alignment, today’s green energy solutions risk becoming tomorrow’s environmental hazards, GBENGA SALAU writes.
With fuel subsidy removal in 2023, powering generators either with petro or diesel became more uneconomical whether for home use or businesses. As a result, many Nigerians started looking for alternative means of electricity since the national grid supply is epileptic and unreliable. Solar energy became the go to for many individuals and organisations to power homes and businesses.
While to some, solar electricity became a substitute, to others, it became their permanent source of electricity, signing completely off the national grid.
This new drive spurred widespread uptake of solar home systems and rooftop installations for households and businesses across the country. According to GlobalData, Nigeria’s solar capacity is projected to rise from 179 MW at the end of 2023 to 255 MW by end of 2025; 678 MW by 2030 and 1,500 MW (1.5 GW) by 2035, representing a compound yearly growth rate of 18.9 per cent for renewables overall.
Reports also have it that Nigeria added 73 MW of solar capacity in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in Africa. The report further said that by end of 2024, the total installed capacity stood at approximately 385–386 MW, raising Nigeria to the fourth or fifth largest solar installer in Africa, although solar accounts for just 1.6 per cent of the country’s national energy mix. The off-grid solar market also has grown at around 22 per cent per year over recent years, one of Africa’s fastest expansions.
Yet as import volumes of panels, inverters, and batteries — especially lead-acid types — surge past $350 million (2018–2021 figures), there is an urgent warning from some stakeholders, especially as they feel that the country lacks formal mechanisms for managing solar waste, and laws like the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) remain largely unenforced.
They noted that components like expired solar batteries are often dumped with municipal waste or processed informally, creating a ticking e-waste time bomb.
With the increasing adoption of solar energy in Nigeria, what are the likely environmental challenges the country might grapple with, a Professor of Electrical and Electronic at the University of Lagos, Peter Oluseyi, stated that several units make up a solar solution system, listing them to include solar panels to the batteries, the inverter, the charge controller, and electrical cables, among others.
He added that the first two reach their end-of-life 20 to 25 years for panels and three to five years for batteries. “All these have a way of constituting nuisance to the environment after the end-of-life by their e-waste. Because the waste is electronic in nature so they are non-degradable. Thus, they constitute several threats to the ecosystems, especially the panels and the batteries.
“There is a tendency that the users may indiscriminately dispose them in the informal dumpsites and unauthorised landfills. While the batteries stand a higher risk of soil and groundwater pollution, the solar panel, being a non-degradable composition, when discarded, can increasingly result in occupying space and constituting a persistent environmental burden by occupying valuable space.
“In another vein, the contents of the batteries, especially Lead and lithium-ion are dangerous to the health of the local scavengers who may pick up the leaking batteries from the dumpsites. These battery contents can also be discharged by these untrained scavengers upon the ground, as they are also interested in the non-liquid contents of the batteries,” Oluseyi stated.
Also speaking, a Professor of Environmental Chemistry at Abia State University but on sabbatical at Amadeus University, Innocent Chidi Nnorom, said deploying solar off-grid energy equipment in Nigeria has several benefits as it provides electricity to remote and underserved communities, as well as in the cities considering the irregular electricity supply in most cities, thereby promoting energy access and socio-economic development.
“It is a clean and renewable source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change. The solar industry also creates employment opportunities in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance – and even in the waste management sector. Furthermore, solar-powered healthcare facilities enhance medical care and vaccine storage. The increasing Off Grid Renewable Energy Equipment (OGREE) installations enable academic institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs to operate effectively, stimulating local economies.”
Nnorom, however, stated that there are also challenges associated with deploying OGREE in Nigeria owing to high upfront costs that make OGREE inaccessible to many households and businesses as well as technical challenges, such as regular maintenance and technical expertise
He noted that the concern to some stakeholders is the equipment when they reach end-of-life, which is when they become waste, because they contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, and lead. “ The batteries especially can present risk to humans and the environment if not properly managed.”
Similarly, National President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, said it is indeed a very interesting development that Nigeria is currently, just like as it is happening all over the world, deploying more solar technology, especially photovoltaic panels to generate energy.
“And of course, it is not surprising because Africa actually has abundant solar, which is sun expected to be utilised through photovoltaic panels. However, the downtime or the disadvantage aspect of photovoltaic is the resultant end of life panels but for us in waste management that really is not a problem and shouldn’t be a problem.
“All over the world, solar panels, solar batteries are being recycled. Already, we have some e-waste recycling facilities that can actually take up the panels. As for the battery, there are also batteries recycling facilities in Nigeria that will take care of that. Also, Nigeria has a very high rate of reuse.”
Worthy to mention is that with the growing adoption of solar, Nigeria’s e-waste is expected to increase. In 2019, Nigeria is said to have generated approximately 461,300 tonnes of e-waste, leading West Africa in generation volume and every year, around 60,000 tonnes of used electronics are imported into Nigeria, many labeled as ‘reusable’ but often non-functional, worsening the domestic burden. Yet Nigeria recycles less than 0.1 per cent of its e-waste, significantly below the African average of 1 per cent, while only 10 to 17 per cent of Nigeria’s e-waste is treated formally; roughly 90 per cent is improperly managed through informal dumps, often involving open burning of wires and circuit boards, releasing lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and toxic flame retardants into the air, soil, and water.
Projections suggest that solar panel e-waste in Nigeria will surge from 3.3 million kilograms in 2021 to 60.3 million kilogrammes by 2040. If Nigeria scales solar PV capacity to 30,000 MW, over 280 million batteries will be needed over time, given typical battery lifespan of roughly three years, creating an unprecedented end-of-life waste stream
Adebola, however, noted that there are a whole lot of informal activities around recycling in general, especially as most of the batteries are actually collected informally, though there are some formal e-waste recycling facilities in Nigeria.
“Like any other waste, especially hazardous waste that they are, improper handling of any hazardous waste is going to be disastrous to humans and the environment, generally.
“For instance, most of those batteries are either dry cell lead batteries, which are highly poisonous. So, it can actually cause a lot of ill health, if not even death in human beings and animals alike. The end-of-life batteries that will be generated by solar facilities are going to increase. This is aside Nigeria also has a very high number of vehicles on roads, which is actually being collected mostly by the informal sectors, while some by the few formal sectors.
“The major thing is for government to ensure that appropriate regulations are put in place. Let me also allay your fear because managing the waste from end-of-life solar activities is much easier than managing municipal solid waste on the continent of Africa or Nigeria.
“This is because once you have a solar farm and the facilities, all the equipment, the batteries that you need to replace or the panels have reached to the end of life, there should be a regulation that the owner of the solar farm cannot just sell such things or cannot dispose them indiscriminately. It has to be collected by a registered and assigned collector that will ensure that everything that is collected go into recycling and appropriate waste management.
“We need to begin to implement what we call traceability, you must be able to trace who picked up this particular waste, have a proper record register and where it is going to, even after it has been destroyed or recycled, the original owner will get a feedback from that organization that has the requisite capacity in terms of equipment to say certain equipment came from xyz company in this quantity and we have recycled this as well as recovered this material. We have recycled this and then the others have been destroyed or have been treated because these are hazardous waste. So, it will be much easier to collect and trace if we can implement the traceability principle,” Adebola argued
On how Nigeria can foster a circular economy for solar components, especially lead acid and lithium-ion batteries to reduce environmental pollution and lower replacement costs, Oluseyi stated that circular economy for solar kits will be a great idea. “In which case, the nation can promote local refurbishing startups for the panels so that they can have secondary value for their deployment in rural areas.
“Also, it is very common that most solar kits are not designed for modular repairs. Hence, there is a need to adopt the design-for-repair of solar kits. The lack of repairability in components of most existing solar solutions often means that a single fault leads to complete system decommissioning. In the case of our large-scale intervention, the green investors can be encouraged to provide recycling plants for solar e-waste.
“Another approach to avoid indiscriminate disposal of the batteries is to have digital tracking of each battery in use in the space so that they will be monitored to the end of life disposal to ensure that they are not disposed in a way that will jeopardise the environment.”
Equally, Adebola stated that just like any other policies in Nigeria and by extension Africa, there is quite a lot of beautiful write up in terms of regulation, guidance and regulatory frameworks.
“The major problem is that of implementation of what is in the books. For instance, there is the National Waste Battery Management Policy and the National Environmental Battery Control, which provide guidelines for battery usage, collection, and recycling, but little or no enforcement of its guidelines.
“They are hazardous waste and it must be adequately handled, otherwise, it leads to pollution. E-waste is carcinogenic in nature, it causes cancer, it causes mutation, all manner of ill-health in human. They cause spontaneous abortion. That is why young people are having cancer now. But as long as the e-waste from solar are well-collected, recycled and treated, you can be rest assured that there won’t be any side effects.
“The problem that I have with regulations in Nigeria is that of implementation. Implementation is always very difficult. Otherwise, waste should not be found being dumped indiscriminately anywhere as waste should be collected from the doorstep of the waste generator,” Adebola maintained.
On the financial and policy mechanisms that could simultaneously incentivize households and businesses to adopt solar PV systems while ensuring the safe management of end-of-life solar batteries and panels, Oluseyi stated that Nigeria, like many other developing economies, has to adopt renewable energy systems to fast-track the availability of energy to the teeming population. “And the solar solutions readily come to mind. Even though e-waste is a product of the heavy deployment of solar solutions, it may not be currently evident. This may be partly because any solar kit is expected to have a lifespan of 10-25 years. It means the issue of e-waste from the solar solutions may not gain prominence until the above time.
“It is thus wise to plan ahead for the e-waste management and handling protocol for this sub-sector. Since its deployment is still nascent. There are several countries that have been involved in making this kind of provision for the waste management, even in Africa.
“For instance, Rwanda has a policy on the collection of e-waste from the solar kits by putting in place an Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP), which mandates the importers/manufacturers to provide collection and recycling process for the wastes from the solar kits that have outlived their useful lifetime.
“It is also the process adopted in Germany whereby the producers bear the cost of solar kits disposal after useful lifespan. This approach can be fine-tuned to help Nigeria, which has no policy in respect of solar e-waste.”
Oluseyi, however, said that beyond policy, another approach that may be very effective is the use of financial mechanism such as rebate-for-return programme where old batteries and solar panels, as the two major huge sources of wastes, are returned to manufacturers/dealers for either cashback or credit/discount towards acquiring new ones.
“Also, the use of green financing from such international organisations as UNDP can be of great importance. The retraction of used and obsolete solar kits should be made more attractive through financial incentives as the kits get returned. This is a major step toward preventing the looming solar e-waste problem in Nigeria.”
Commenting on the type of solar panels being deployed at present when looked at from environmental perspective, Nnorom stated that just like electronic products such as radios and mobile phone, both good quality and poor quality solar panels and off-grid renewable electrical equipment (OGREE) in general are being deployed in Nigeria.
“The quality and type of product determine the lifespan of the products deployed. Also important is maintenance of the deployed OGREE. The average lifespan of solar off-grid products varies depending on the component.
“Solar Panels usually last 25-30 years or more, with a gradual efficiency loss over time. They degrade slowly, typically losing around 0.5 per cent efficiency per year. Solar panels are broadly classified into monocrystalline silicon solar panels and polycrystalline silicon solar panels. The mono-Si solar panels offer higher efficiency, better performance in low light, and a longer lifespan, but come at a higher cost. Poly-Si solar panels are more affordable, but have lower efficiency and a shorter lifespan.
“So, the mono-Si solar panels are generally considered better than polycrystalline panels due to their higher efficiency, longer lifespan, and better performance in low-light and high-temperature conditions.
“However, polycrystalline panels are typically more affordable. The best choice depends on individual needs and circumstances, such as available space, budget, and desired performance.
“For inverters, the lifespan is 10-15 years, although higher quality models may last longer. Note that regular maintenance and timely repairs or replacements can help extend their lifespan. For the charge controllers, the lifespan is 10+ years, if properly installed and sized.
“It is important to note that proper maintenance, regular inspections, and optimal operating conditions can significantly impact the lifespan of these components.” Nnorom argued that it is important that the e-waste from solar energy is managed because of the negative implications if done haphazardly.
The likely implications of not properly managing the growing e-waste from solar energy adoption include significant environmental and health risks due to the toxic materials in solar panels, such as lead and cadmium, which can leach into soil and water when panels are discarded improperly.
“Exposure to lead and cadmium poses significant health risks, including neurological damage, kidney damage, and increased risk of cancer. Lead exposure can cause developmental delays, cardiovascular disease, and anaemia, while cadmium exposure can lead to lung cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. Both metals can also impair cognitive function, cause reproductive problems, and increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. Prolonged exposure to these toxic metals can have devastating health consequences, emphasizing the need for proper handling, disposal, and regulation of products containing lead and cadmium.
“Developing countries, including Nigeria, face urgent challenges with insufficient recycling infrastructure, weak policies, lack of enforcement, and reliance on informal e-waste recycling sectors that may mishandle toxic components of OGREE and create fire hazards, particularly from batteries and negative impacts from harmful chemicals.
“Without effective national regulations, financial incentives, and advanced recycling technologies, the increasing volume of OGREE waste products could lead to pollution and public health risks, there by undermining the sustainability goals that solar energy aims to achieve,” Nnorom stated.
Considering the scale-up of Solar Power Naija and mini grid deployments, how should the government and private sector plan for the long-term management of solar system waste, including infrastructure, regulation, and financing to mitigate environmental impact, Oluseyi stated that the opening of a registered collection centre is urgently needed. “This can be championed by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).”
He added that the establishment of a regulatory framework with such emphasis on the development of the National e-Waste Management policy must be designed in line with the guidelines currently in existence for other electronic waste disposal processes at NESREA.
“Also, it should be emphasised that for every project, the e-waste management plan should be provided and made available before such a project is fully given to the contractors/installers. Of great importance is that there must be an e-waste monitoring and collection centre in each state under the Ministry of Environment or its equivalent. A special solar waste management fund can be instituted by Green Bond or other relevant international organizations that are connected to renewable energy activities.”
Oluseyi further said that there should be aggressive mass media campaigns that would help to provide information on the dangers of solar e-wastes and the urgent need for their safe handling with adequate and robust procedures for the solar e-waste handling steps.
Nnorom observed that policy formulation for OGREE management is still evolving though presently, UNIDO, in partnership with the EU, is actively involved in promoting a circular economy for OGREE in Nigeria through a project “Advancing Nigeria’s Green and Just Transition to Net Zero through Circular Economy Practices” project.
“To effectively manage the increasing OGREE waste and mitigate its negative environmental impacts, a comprehensive policy framework is essential. This framework should integrate several key areas, aligning with existing national initiatives and aiming for a circular economy in the solar/renewable energy sector.
“The most critical framework is the implementation of EPR for OGREE. This is foundational. The government should implement and enforce a mandatory EPR programme for OGREE which will compel solar panel and battery manufacturers, importers, and distributors to take full responsibility for the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of end-of-life solar products and used batteries.
“This directly aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing EPR initiatives led by NESREA and the Federal Ministry of Environment, aiming to create a regulated environment for solar e-waste. Producers should actively support take-back schemes and partner with certified recyclers to ensure environmentally sound handling, dismantling, and material recovery from OGREE waste. Furthermore, EPR would encourage manufacturers to design sustainable products with their end-of-life in mind.” He also suggested support for local production of solar panels through policies that encourage domestic manufacturing, such as the proposed ban on solar panel imports by 2025.
“This can facilitate greater control over the product lifecycle and OGREE waste management.
Develop and invest strategically in dedicated e-waste recycling infrastructure. This includes establishing accessible collection points, developing advanced recycling facilities capable of processing solar components, and ensuring proper disposal systems for hazardous fractions.
“It is important to also note that training programs for OGREE technicians would be needed to ensure maintenance of installation and ESM of OGREE waste.
“It’s crucial that widespread public awareness campaigns be implemented to educate consumers on the risks of improper disposal of OGREE waste. Such campaigns should and highlight available collection centres and infrastructures provided to enhance convenient recycling. Dumping of OGREE waste and reliance on informal disposal practices have negative consequences for the ecosystem,” Nnorom stated.
Efforts to get the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahum Haruna, to speak on the measures the ministry is putting in place to ensure that the increasing adoption of solar energy does not compound Nigeria e-waste crisis were not successful.
After he was called on phone, he asked that the question be sent to him via WhatsApp which was complied with. He acknowledged it, promising to send the questions to the professional in the ministry for answer.
A week after, he did not respond or provide the feedback to the questions, a reminder was sent to him, which he has not responded to as at press time.
